License plate transport mechanism
A license plate transport mechanism includes a mounting bracket connectable beneath a vehicle support structure, such as a front bumper of a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes an elongate track with a pivot pin for pivotally mounting a license plate mounting plate. When the mounting plate is at a first end of the track, it pivots to a vertical position that is generally perpendicular to a base of the mounting bracket to display the license plate. The mounting plate is pivotable to a horizontal position generally parallel to the mounting bracket base. Once in the horizontal position, the pivot pin and mounting plate can move toward a second end of the track to store the license plate underneath the vehicle support structure.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/854,184, filed Oct. 25, 2006.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention generally relates to vehicle license plate mounting mechanisms, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle license plate transport mechanism for storing a license plate out of sight beneath the vehicle. Original equipment manufacturers of automobiles typically provide a fixed license plate mount on the front and rear ends of an automobile. As shown in
A license plate transport mechanism comprises a mounting bracket mountable to a vehicle support structure. The mounting bracket comprises a base having a length and a width and a track which extends the length of the base. A pivot pin is carried in the track of the mounting bracket. A license plate mounting plate pivotally connects to the pivot pin and is movable between a first position and a second position. When the mounting plate is in the first position the mounting plate extends generally perpendicular to a first end of the mounting bracket when the pivot pin is adjacent the first end of the mounting bracket. When the mounting plate is in the second position the mounting plate pivots to a position generally parallel to the mounting bracket base. The pivot pin is movable to a second end of the mounting bracket when the mounting plate is in the second position to store the mounting plate relative to the base.
License plate mounting plate 24 is a generally planar, rectangular plate which generally corresponds to the shape and size of an automobile license plate. Mounting plate 24 has a rear surface 40 and a pair of flanges 42 connected to the rear surface 40 near a lower edge 43 of mounting plate 24. Flanges 42 extend generally perpendicular from rear surface 40 and generally parallel to one another. Flanges 42 are spaced relative to one another by a distance slightly greater than the width of base 28 such that the facing surfaces of flanges 42 are able to straddle the outer surface of each leg 30. Each flange 42 is configured with a mounting hole 44, such that the mounting holes 44 are oriented on a common axis that is spaced from and generally parallel to rear surface 40. Flanges 42 may be reinforced by one or more support ribs 46 connected to rear surface 40 and each flange 42. Mounting plate 24 may be formed from a suitable plastic material in a conventional injection molding process and may include a plurality of threaded receptacles 48 capable of receiving mounting screws for connecting a license plate on the front surface of mounting plate 24.
Pivot pin assembly 26 includes a pin 50, a spring 52 and a pair of retainer clips 54 which are mountable to opposite ends of pin 50. Pivot pin assembly 26 secures mounting plate 24 to mounting bracket 22 by passing pin 50 through mounting holes 44 of flanges 42 and the elongated slots 38 of legs 30. In one embodiment, spring 52 is a helically wound wire spring which is positioned over pin 50 so as to be positioned between legs 30 when license plate transport mechanism 20 is fully assembled. Retainer clips 54 are secured to opposite ends of pin 50 to maintain pivot pin assembly in place after mounting plate 24 is connected to mounting bracket 22.
As shown in
When it is necessary or desirable to view the vehicle license plate, mounting plate 24 is manually moved forward until pin 50 reaches the forward-most extent of elongate slots 38, at which point spring 50 urges mounting plate 24 to pivot into and remain in the perpendicular, extended position against the front end 62 of the vehicle support structure 60 (
The yoke pin assembly 90 comprises a U-shaped bracket 94 that mounts with screws or other suitable connector to the rear surface 40 of mounting plate 24 between flanges 42. Pivotally connected to the legs of the U-shaped bracket 94 is a yoke pin 96. In one embodiment, yoke pin 96 is a continuous metal wire configured to define a pair of generally parallel legs 98, which pivotally engage holes formed in the legs of the U-shaped bracket 94, and a transverse loop 100 having a width greater than a spacing of the legs 98. Legs 98 extend at an angle relative to the transverse loop 100 to connect to bracket 94. As shown in
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A license plate transport mechanism mountable to a vehicle support structure, the license plate transport mechanism comprising:
- a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising a base having a length and a width and a track extending the length of the base along opposite sides of the base, the base configured for connection to a lower surface of the vehicle support structure;
- a pivot pin carried in the track of the mounting bracket; and
- a mounting plate having a front surface configured for mounting a license plate and a rear surface facing the pivot pin, the mounting plate being pivotally connected to the pivot pin and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the mounting plate extends generally perpendicular to a first end of the mounting bracket when the pivot pin is adjacent the first end of the mounting bracket so as to cover the mounting bracket, and wherein in the second position the mounting plate pivots to a position generally parallel to the mounting bracket base with the mounting plate front surface facing away from the lower surface of the vehicle support structure, the pivot pin movable to a second end of the mounting bracket when the mounting plate is in the second position.
2. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising:
- biasing means engaging the mounting plate for biasing the mounting plate towards the first position.
3. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 2, wherein the biasing means comprises a helical metal spring having a wire coil, a first leg and a second leg, the wire coil positioned on the pivot pin, the first leg engaging the base of the mounting bracket, the second leg engaging the rear surface of the mounting plate.
4. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate comprises:
- first and second spaced flanges extending generally perpendicular from a rear surface of the mounting plate, the first and second flanges each configured to define a hole, the pivot pin engaging the holes of the first and second flanges; and
- a support rib connected to each of the first and second flanges and the rear surface of the mounting plate.
5. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 1 wherein the track comprises first and second elongate legs connected to the mounting bracket base on opposite sides of the base, the first and second legs extending generally perpendicular to the base, each leg configured to define an elongate slot, wherein the pivot pin is positioned in the elongate slots of the first and second legs.
6. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 1 wherein the track comprises first and second elongate C-shaped channels connected to the mounting bracket base on opposite sides of the base, the transport mechanism further comprising a sliding member configured to move along the first and second C-shaped channels, the sliding member comprising a pivot pin mount at one end for pivotal connection of the pivot pin.
7. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising:
- a motor mounted to the base adjacent to the second end of the mounting bracket, the motor comprising a drive pulley;
- a return pulley wheel mounted to the base adjacent to the first end of the mounting bracket;
- a transport cable engaging the chive pulley and the return pulley wheel; and
- a yoke pin having a first portion connected to the mounting plate, the yoke pin further having a second portion carried in the track of the mounting bracket and secured to the transport cable, the first portion of the yoke pin being lower than the second portion of the yoke pin when the mounting plate is in the first position, wherein the yoke pin causes the mounting plate to pivot about the pivot pin in response to movement of the transport cable when the mounting plate is moving between the first position and the second position.
8. A license plate transport mechanism comprising:
- a pivot pin;
- a mounting bracket having a base mountable to a lower surface of a vehicle support structure, the mounting bracket comprising means for supporting the pivot pin for linear movement from a first end of the mounting bracket to a second end of the mounting bracket; and
- a mounting plate having a front surface configured for mounting a license plate and a rear surface facing the pivot pin, the mounting plate being pivotally connected to the pivot pin and movable between a first position generally perpendicular to the mounting bracket so as to cover the mounting bracket and a second position generally parallel to the mounting bracket with the mounting plate front surface facing away from the lower surface of the vehicle support structure, the mounting plate being movable between the first and second positions when the pivot pin is at the first end of the mounting bracket, wherein in the pivot pin is moveable to the second end of the mounting bracket when the mounting plate is in the second position.
9. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 8 wherein the mounting plate is biased toward the first position.
10. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 8 wherein mounting bracket comprises the base having first and second sides and first and second ends, and wherein the means for supporting the pivot pin comprises a first leg connected to a first side of the base and extending in a first direction, generally perpendicular to the base, and a second leg connected to the second side of the base and extending in the first direction, generally perpendicular to the base and generally parallel to the first leg, the first and second legs extending in a second direction between the first and second ends of the base, wherein the first and second legs each comprise an elongate slot extending between the first and second ends, the pivot pin being carried in the elongate slots of the first and second legs.
11. The license plate transport mechanism of claim 8 wherein mounting bracket comprises a base having first and second sides and first and second ends, the first and second ends of the base being coincident with the first and second ends, respectively of the mounting bracket, and wherein the means for supporting the pivot pin comprises first and second elongate C-shaped channels connected to the mounting bracket base on opposite sides of the base, and a sliding member configured to move along the first and second C-shaped channels, the sliding member comprising a pivot pin mount at one end for pivotal connection of the pivot pin.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 24, 2007
Date of Patent: Oct 26, 2010
Assignee: Altec Products, Inc. (Ham Lake, MN)
Inventors: Brian K. Stahel (St. Paul, MN), Paul H. Plahn (Lino Lakes, MN)
Primary Examiner: Joanne Silbermann
Assistant Examiner: Kristina Staley
Attorney: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC
Application Number: 11/977,326
International Classification: G09F 7/00 (20060101);